Electric light fixture



Oct. 15, 1940. E. R. KULKA ELECTRIC LIGHT FIXTURE Filed March 8, 1939 6Km m INVENTOR;

BY 5 T I ifiMX/fl' f r ATTORNEYS Patentedct.15,1940 2,218,173

UNITED" STATES PATENT oFFlc-r. A

Eugene R. 'Kulka, New York, N. Y.-, assignor to C. D. Wood ElectricCompany, Inc.; New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationMarch 8, 1939, Serial n 2 0,502 g '3 Claims. (01. m m) My inventionrelates to a new and improved er 3has tapped holes which are engaged bythe electric light fixture. threaded .shanks of. the metal screws 4. The

One of the objects of the invention is to produce heads of the metalscrews 4 clamp the top flange a fixture of simple and economicalconstruction of a second or female spun metalshell 5, so 5 and having animproved ornamental appearance. that the second shell 5 is held againstthe bot- 5 Another object of the invention is to provide tom wall ofplug memberl. Thelower part of a fixture which includes a. metal skirtto which shell 5 is corrugated to provide an internal and a reflector isconnected by suitable suspension external thread. A central metalcontact pin16 means, the fixture being designed so that the has a head6a which abuts the top of the porce- 1 entire filament of ,the bulb islocated below the lain body I. Thebottom end of the contact-pin 10 monthof the reflector. 6 is provided with the usual resilient contact 1,Another object ofthe invention is to provide Which is of the usual.Ushape. The upper leg a fixture in which the metal skirt is connectedto of the U abuts the bottom wall of the plug memthe body of the fixtureby a removable threaded her I. A metal skirt8 is provided at its bottommember which is made of insulating material. with an upturned fiangefi.At its top the metal 5 Other objects of my invention will be set forthskirt 8 isprovided with an inturnedflange. This in the followingdescription and drawing which inturnedflange is-provided with an.-upstanding illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, it bentegral lug10, which enters a-vertical notch of ing understood. thatthe abovestatement of the the extension la. The metal skirt8 is therefore objectsof my invention is intended generally to held against turning relativeto the porcelain 20 explain the same without limiting it in any manbodyI. ner. The metal skirt 8 is clamped in position by Fig. 1 is a verticalcentral section of a part of means of a rigid clampingmember II, which.is the improved fixture, the representation of the 3 preferably made ofporcelain 0 Other S itreflector being omitted. able insulating material;The inner vertical wall 25 Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device shown inof the clampi g member II s t eaded so that it F 1. can be screwed uponthe exterior thread of the Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively sectionalviews female shell 5. l 4 I on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and on the line 44At its top, the clamping member H is provided 80 of Fig. 1. r with areduced extension I lawhich enters the an- 80 Fig. 5 is a side elevationshowing the complete nular recess WhiChiS formed in the inner Wallfixture, part of the representation of the reof theextension la. Theinturned flange of the fiector being omitted, metal skirt 8 is thusclamped between the annu- As shown in Fig. l, the device comprises arigid dg -W f Clamping er I l and the adplug-body l, which is made ofporcelain or oth r jacent lateral wall of extension la; The exten- 35suitable insulating material. This plug-body or sion Ila extends abovesaid clamping wall of v plug-member I is provided at its bottom end withC p ng member H. The bottom edge-wall of a rigid, integral and laterallyenlarged extension the clampi g member ll can be provided with two v Ia. Said extension la has a first top recess of r mo e recesses, 50that-the l pin m mber 40 cylindrical shape, and its inner vertical wallis H may be turned by means of a suitable tool to '40 reduced to form asecond annular recess below l p e inturned n e of'the-metal skirt B'tosaid top recess. The well-known spun metal the extension la. if desired,the clamping memshell 2 is assembled with the porcelain body I, ber Hcan be turned reversely o as to separate above the extension la. Theshell 2 is corrugated the Same from h female Shell and thus make hi 4:,so as to provide the usual external thread, so possible to detach themetal skirt 8 from the exthat the body I and the shell 2 can be screwedtenslon I into a suitable outlet. The shell 2 is provided An extremthcmpfactilndslender common with an inturned flange at the top thereofThis 15 thus provlded Whlch 15 of Vely graceful ap- 1 'pearance, becausethe skirt 8 directly abuts the flange or shoulder abuts shoulder of theDome" extension la and'its outer diameter is substan- 50 1am body Aclamping which 'h tially equal to themaximum diameter of extenbe made ofmetal or other shltable mammal 1s sion la.' The outer wall of extensionlal's curved, located above the flange of the Sheh so that skirt 8appears to be an extension of the A pair of screws dhave their shankslocated in m mber la, The 'outer wall Ofskil'tfl preferably verticalbores of the porcelain body I. The washhas the same color as extensionla. 55

The metalskirt 8 is provided with a suitable number of perforations I2,which have reduced extensions I2a. The reflector R can be made of anysuitable plastic or other material. Beaded chains I4 are preferably usedfor connecting the reflector R to the member 8.

As shown in Fig. 4, each of these chains I4 has separate beads I5. Theend bead I5 of a chain I4 can be inserted through one of the openingsI2, and the chain I4 is then lowered into the extension I2a so that'thewall of the'member 8 is located between a pair of adjacent beads I5.

At its lower end, each chain I4 is provided with a bead I6, which islarger than the beads I5. The beads I5 can be passed through suitableholes which are provided in the reflector R, below the mouth thereof.The end beads I6 are too large to pass through the holes in thereflector. The top bead I5 is then passed through a hole I2, and the topend of the chain is then lowered so that the wall of the member 9 islocated between the two top beads I5.

The chain itself is of usual construction, in which each of the beadsI5-has a thin extension on'which the next bead I5 is movably mounted.

No claim is made to the" construction of the chain per se.

The lengths of the chains I4 are adjusted so that the entire filament ofthe bulb Bis located below' the mouth of the reflector. The bulb B isprovided with the usual shell which can be screwed into the female shell5. For this purpose the bulb B is provided with a neck of sufficientlength, asindicated in broken lines in Fig. 1. The shell of the bulb Bis located at the top end of its neck, in the usual manner.

The screws 4 clamp the washer 3'against the top shoulder or flange ofthe member 2, in addition to clamping the inturned flange of the shell 5against the bottom end-wall of plug member I, so that the member 2 andthe washer 3 and plug member I and shell 5 are held tightly in assembledposition. The contact pin 8 is held against longitudinal movement by themembers 811 and I. The annular extension IIa fits snugly in the annularrecess of the member Ia, so that lateral movement of the member II issubstantially prevented. This takes the lateral stress off the shell 5.

The upper end of shell 5 is located in the top recess of extension Iaand part of shell 5 depends below said extension la. The upper part ofshell 5 fits snugly in said recess, and said fit can be a close or tightfit, if desired.

A strong and rigid assembly is thereby provided even though the shell 5is the usual thin spun metal shell. The diameter of the skirt 8 issubstantially equal to the outer diameter of the member I I, so that agraceful and ornamental effect is secured and all the inner parts areconcealed. The height of the skirt 8 determines the size and wattage ofthe bulb B which can be used in the fixture. Since these bulbs come instandard sizes, a bulb of a predetermined wattage has a neck ofpredetermined length. It is therefore impossible to insert into thefixture a bulb whose wattage is less than the predetermined wattage andthe entire filament of said bulb is located below the mouth ofthereflector R, thus preventing unpleasant glaring light.

The member I and its integral skirt Ia is rigid and the member II isalso rigid. The use of rigid members which are preferably made ofporcelain or the like is superior to the use of yieldable fibreinsulating members. Likewise the member I and its skirt Ia and the shellII provide all the necessary insulation for the device.

It is not necessary, although it is preferable, for the member I I toclamp the flange of the skirt 8 rigidly against the member Ia, becausethe lug I0 and the notch in the member 1a prevent the skirt 8 fromturning relative to the member Ia.

' The shells 2 and 5 are shown as being threaded, in order to conform tostandard American practice. However a bayonet joint could be usedwithout departing from the invention.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is clearthat numerous changes and omissions can be made without departing fromits spirit.

Of course the contact pin 6 does not make electrical contact with thescrews 4 or with the second metalshell 5.

Said pin can be replaced by any means for providing plug I with innerand outer contact means, in additionto shells 2 and 5. Hence, whenever Ispecify said contact pin in a claim or claims, the claims are notlimited to the use of said pin.

The metal shell 2 is electrically connected to the metal shell 5 bymeans of the metal screws 4 which are electrically connected to theinturned flange of the shell 5, and the metal washer 3. The pin 8 isspaced from both shells 2 and 5. Therefore, when the head of the bulb isscrewed into position as indicated in Fig. 1, the circuit is completedthrough the filament of the bulb in the usual manner. or eyelets couldbe used instead f the screws 4. The inner wall of the skirt 8 is made ofsmooth and reflecting metal or other material. This opaque metal orskirt 8 prevents the light from being reflected outwardly from the neckof the bulb. Said light is reflected downwardly on the inner surface ofthe reflector R. The skirt 8 covers the entireneck of the bulb. Ifdesired,

bulb up to the mouth of the reflector R. However for practical purposesit is suflicient if the skirt 8 downwardly reflects the light whichotherwise would be passed through the wall of the neck of the bulb.Maximum illumination and minimum glare are thus secured.

In the specific embodiment disclosed herein, the metal screws 4 aremeans which will fill the double function of holding the shell 5 inposition and electrically connecting the shell 5 to the shell 2. Itwould not be departing from this invention if this single means werereplaced by separate means.

I claim:

1. A rigid plug member having a bore and hav- Of course metal rivets Iing a laterally enlarged extension at its bottom end, a metal plug shelllocated on the outer vertical wall of said plug member, said extensionhaving an upper recess and a lower recess of greater internal diameterthan the inner diameter of the upper recess, a second metal shelldepending below said extension and having its upper end located in saidupper recess, a contact pin located in said bore and insulated from saidshells, means connecting the second metal shell to said plug member andelectrically connecting the second metal shell to the plug shell, saiddepending portion of the second metal shell being externally andinternally threaded, a holding member made of insulating material andengaging the outer thread of the second metal shell and having a reducedtop projection which is located in said lower recess, a skirt having aninturned flange which is clamped between a portion of said holdingmember and said extension, the skirt depending below said holdingmember.

2. A rigid plug member having a bore and having a laterally enlargedextension at its bottom end, a metal plug shell located on the outervertical wall of said plug member, said extension having an upper recessand a lower recess of greater internal diameter than the inner diameterof the upper recess, a second metal shell depending below said extensionand having its upper end located in said upper recess, a contact pinlocated in said bore and insulated from said shells, means connectingthe second metal shell to said plug member and ele'ctricallyconnectingthe second metal shell to the plug shell, said depending portion of thesecond metal shell being externally and internally threaded, a holdingmember made of insulating material and engaging the outer thread of thesecond metal shell and having a reduced top projection which is locatedin said lower recess, a skirt having an inturned said holding member andsaid extension, the skirt depending below said holding member, the skirts having an upstanding projection which is located in a recess of saidextension.

3. A rigid plug member having a bore and having a laterally enlargedextension at its bottom end, a metal plug shell located on the outervertical wall of said plug member, said extension having an upper recessand a lower recess of greater internal diameter than the inner diam:-eter of the upper recess, a second metal shell depending below saidextension and having its upper end located in said upper recess, acontact pin located in said bore and insulated from said shells, meansconnecting the second metal shell to said plug member and electricallyconnecting the second metal shell to the plug shell, said dependingportion of the second metal shell being externally and internallythreaded, a holding member made of insulating material and engaging theouter thread of the second metal shell and having a reduced topprojection which is located in said lower recess, a skirt having aninturned flange which is clamped between a portion of said holdingmember and said extension, the skirt depending below said holdingmember, the adjacent portions of said skirtand of said' extension beingof substantially equal diameters;

EUGENE R. KULKA.

